Napa, Day 3! I got to spend today with Mary, a friend from college. She and her family live in Napa and when she found out I was visiting, she was nice enough to offer to be my tour guide for the day. I got a great view of both the tourist side and the resident side of Napa. It was wonderful to see a college friend, and wonderful to hang out with someone who knows the area so well. What a great experience!
The first place we went today was Domaine Carneros (I'm calling it DC. Probably gauche, but oh well). This winery is built in the style of a French chateau, and is MASSIVE. You walk up about 4 flights of stairs to get to the entrance, and they take every opportunity with the height to show off the building. Plus, the height gets you some amazing views. DC is known for its sparkling wines, but also offers several still varieties. We got to sample both, and they were really good. Of course my favorite was the $95 bottle of pinot noir, but needless to say it did not end up in my bag.
I did get a good laugh....in the pictures you'll meet Regan, an adorable poodle / Bichon mix. Regan was sporting a purple mohawk and tail, and I'm pretty sure she was also wearing a Gucci collar. Her owner was more than happy to let me take pictures, and even tempted the dog with a piece of cheese to get better shots. It was definitely something.
The next winery was Migration, part of the Duckhorn Vineyards family. These were also really good wines. It's been fascinating to sample the different types of wine available and how they differ from region to region. I've never been a red wine girl, but I'm really loving these! Very smooth and drinkable, instead of that funky aftertaste that so many have.
A side note: I've found one of the cheapest souvenirs around. Wine corks! Each place I've been to over the past few days has happily given me a bag of corks to take home with me. One even filled up a small trash bag. I figure it'll be a great souvenir to make a wreath, coasters, or anything else I can think of. I also might freak out a few TSA agents with the four bags (and counting!) of corks I'm going to have to fit in my book bag...... :)
Last stop of the day.....Mary and Jamie invited me to go with them to Brix, a local restaurant. So good! It's fancy without being pretentious, and had a beautiful garden in the back where they grow vegetables they use in the restaurant. The tempura fried green beans, gnocchi and wine were so, so yummy. (the company was also wonderful!)
And now, more pictures!
No comments:
Post a Comment